Vanessa da Mata was born in 1976, in small Alto Garças, in the state of Mato Grosso, West Brazil. The town is located some 250 miles away from Cuiabá, the state capital, and is surrounded by rivers and waterfalls. Self-taught, she grew up listening to all kinds of music, from the king of baião (typical Northeastern Brazilian music), Luiz Gonzaga, to bossa nova genius Tom Jobim, the beautiful voice of Milton Nascimento and old-school romantic Brazilian singer Orlando Silva. She was also fond of regional rythyms such as the carimbó, which she heard in records an uncle brought her from the Amazon region. She also heard some samba, Brazilian folk music and even Italian romantic songs, which came from an AM radio station that could be reached from Alto Garças.

Vanessa moved to Uberlândia, in the Southeastern state of Minas Gerais (about 750 mils from home), when she was 14. She moved alone to a girls' home, thinking about studying in order to get into med-school. But deep inside she knew she wanted to sing. She was 15 when she started singing in local pubs. In 1992 Vanessa moved again, this time to big São Paulo, where she became part of the all-girl reggae band Shalla-Ball. Three years later she went on tour with Jamaican reggae stars Black Uhuru, and later joined the Brazilian folk group Mafuá. By then she also split her time between the carreers of basketball player and fashion model.

She met composer Chico César in 1997, and the duo wrote the song "A força que nunca seca" ("The force that never dries out"), which was recorded by Brazilian superstar Maria Bethânia, who named her record after the tune, in 1999. Bethânia's recording received a Latin Grammy nomination, and the song was also recorded by César, in his CD "Mama Mundi". Brazil was meeting a great songwriter. Bethânia recorded Wanessa's work again: "O canto de Dona Sinhá" ("Lady Sinhá's song") came on the sucessful "Maricotinha" – in a duet with Caetano Veloso, no less – and also in the corresponding live Record. Another song, "Viagem" ("Trip"), was recorded by Daniela Mercury, in her CD "O Sol da Liberdade" ("The sun of freedom"). Together with Ana Carolina she wrote "Me sento na rua" ("I sit down on the street"), which appeared in "Ana Rita Joana Iracema e Carolina" (2001).

Vanessa's voice and performance were also starting to turn heads. She sang live with Milton Nascimento, Bethânia and in bossa nova legend Baden Powell's last shows. She was ready to start her own carrer as a singer.

Her début came in 2002, "Vanessa da Mata" (Sony) – produced by Liminha, Jaques Morelenbaum, Luiz Brasil, Dadi and Kassin. Three of the songs contained in the CD became big hits in Brazil: "Nossa Canção" ("Our Song", featured in the popular TV series "Celebridade"), "Não me deixe só" ("Don't leave me", a dancefloor favourite through DJ Ramilson Maia's remix) and "Onde ir" ("Where to go", from another TV series, "Esperança").
Her second CD, "Essa boneca tem manual" ("This doll has a manual", Sony) was released in 2004 and had Liminha again as a producer. The famous studio man and musician also wrote songs with Vanessa – such as "Ai ai ai…", "Ainda bem" and "Não chore homem". She also recorded a new version of Caetano's "Eu Sou Neguinha"(featured in the TV series "A Lua Me Disse") and "História de Uma Gata" (by Chico Buarque, from the famous children's musical "Saltimbancos"). "Ai ai ai…" (an expression that means moaning) was the song Brazilian radio played the most in 2006, and the album went platinum.

"Sim" ("Yes"), her third CD, released in 2007, was produced by Mario Caldato and Kassin. It was recorded in studios in Jamaica and Brazil. Five of the 13 tracks feature the reggae legends Sly and Robbie. "Sim", the title, was chosen by Vanessa because it is "a positive answer to life, a fighting response". It also features Ben Harper, famous bossa nova composer João Donato, drummer Wilson das Neves, Don Chacal and a bunch of young Brazilian musicians, such as drummer Pupillo (from Nação Zumbi), and guitar players Fernando Catatau (Cidadão Instigado), Pedro Sá and Davi Moraes, among others.

Multishow Live – Vanessa da Mata:

In an astonishing set – the colonial Paraty downtown – Vanessa da Mata presents her first live recording and her first DVD: Multishow Live – Vanessa da Mata, directed by Joana Mazzucchelli. The show, free of charge, amazed both tourists and Paraty locals, who danced to the singer’s hits. Vanessa recorded songs from her three records: “Sim” (“Yes”), “Essa Boneca Tem Manual” (“This Doll Comes With Instructions”) and “Vanessa da Mata”. Onstage, whe had with her the Jamaican team of Sly Dunbar (drums) and Robbie Shakespeare (bass), show recorded with her in “Sim” the songs "Boa Sorte/Good Luck" (a hit Vanessa had together with Bem Harper), "Vermelho" (“Red”), "Ilegais" (“Illegal”), “Pirraça” (“Stuborness”) and “Absurdo” (“Absurd”).